Exploring Kumamoto and Beyond!
There are many places to visit in Kumamoto and around Kyushu. Of course, Kumamoto Castle is a must, as well as Suizenji Park, but we have put a list of our favourite less well-known destinations along with some hints and special points about those places. Enjoy exploring Kumamoto and beyond!‘♨’means that the region is also famous for onsen.
Aso and Minami Aso♨-Car/Bus; FREE; AsoAso is home to Kumamoto’s active volcano. Butyou can’t access Aso by Route 57anymore. The ‘Milk Road’ from Ozu is the best way. Please visit Aso Shrine and the small shopping street next to it. Minami Aso, can now be accessed by the tunnel from Nishihara. Minami Aso is famous for natural spring water which you can drink straight from the source. Great for the summer!
Amakusa ♨-- Car/Bus; ¥500-¥800; AmakusaAmakusa is a reclusive but richly entertaining chain of islands in the west of Kumamoto. Amakusa offers beautiful beaches and historical places, such as Oe and Sakitsu cathedral. There are also onsen that offer mountain and ocean views. A nice escape from the summer heat!
KurokawaOnsen♨–Car/Bus;¥1300onsen pass; Minami OguniKurokawa is an onsen town packed with ryokans, restaurants and shops. You can buy an onsen pass allowing access to three baths. Perfect in the cooler months, especially in autumn!
Kuma River Rafting–Car; Check price in advance; HitoyoshiYou can register with a company in Hitoyoshi to enjoy a ride on a traditional river boat or try some rafting. There are a few different courses, so choose one to your liking. River conditions change drastically throughout the year. Booking in advance is advised.
Aoi Aso Shrine–Car; FREE; HitoyoshiA shrine in the south of Kumamoto. It is one of Japan’s national treasures.
Aso Milk Farm–Car;¥350 (plus extra for activities); NishiharaLocated south of Nishihara, the milk farm is a great day out with everything you can wish for from pig racing to cow milking. Treat yourself to some homemade ice cream, cheeses and, of course, milk!
Beppu, Oita ♨–Car/Bus/Train;Hells: ¥400 each, ¥2000 for pass; OitaBeppuis the most famousonsen region in Japan. You can smell the sulphurous volcanically heated water even before you leave the expressway! Enjoy the many baths it has to offer, as well as the spectacular ‘hells’.My favourite onsen area is MyobanOnsen. It has fantastic baths, private ones andpublic ones, is home of the ‘toriten curry’ as well (fried chicken curry <3) and has superb views out towards the sea.
Tamana♨–Car/Train; FREE;TamanaTamana is a great little city located in the heart of Tamana-Gun. It is famous for the onsenTuskasa no Yu. It also is famous for tonkatsu ramen, which is #1 Kumamoto!
Dazaifu, Fukuoka– Car/Bus/Train; FREE; DazaifuRenowned for its glorious ume (plum) blossom in February/March and its ‘Legendary Flying Plum Tree’, Dazaifu is one of the best shrines in Fukuoka. You should try to see it at least once.
Sakurajima, Kagoshima♨– Car/Bus/Ferry; FREE; KagoshimaSakurajima is one of Japan’s most active volcanoes! Take a trip to this fascinating island and learn about its amazing history and geology. There’s a great vegetarian daikon café to look out for too!
Takachiho, Miyazaki– Car/Bus;FREE; MiyazakiJust beyond the border of Kumamoto and Miyazaki, Takachiho boasts a spectacular gorge and one of the best 100 waterfalls in Japan! Also go toTakachiho shrine during your visit.
Ontayaki, Oita– Car; FREE; Hita CityA famous pottery district in Oita. You can buy handmade pottery, walk through the village and watch the craftsmen at work. Prices of the pottery range from as little as ¥200 to around ¥3000 for more extravagant items.
Nagasaki – Car+ferry/Car; FREE; Nagasaki CityOne of the most historic cities in all of Japan that boasts a culturally diverse history. They have one of the largest Chinatowns in Japan that offers delicious Chinese food (the mapo-tofu is still one of my favorites). It also has Dejima (the Dutch quarter) one of my favorite places in Nagasaki that has yummy castella. Of course there is the Atomic Bomb Museum and Memorial, and Peace Park— both most sees. My personal osusume.
Kumamoto Castle–Car/Bus/Train/ Tram; FREE; Kumamoto CityA must see! There’s limited access since the earthquakes, but you can enjoy the surroundings and Kato Shrine. Below the castle is Jyosaien, a shopping area with many shops.
Suizenji Park – Car/Bus/Train; ¥400; Kumamoto CityA beautiful park found in Kumamoto City. Within the park walls is a shrine and you can also sit in the tea house and try some matcha tea.
Accommodation
Hotel ¥¥¥～¥¥¥¥ ・Business Hotel ¥¥～¥¥¥You can book most hotels online without providing credit card details. Pay on checking in.
Capsule Hotel ¥～¥¥ Little space, little price. Each guest gets a “capsule” style room with bed, TV, and outlets.
Ryokan ¥¥¥¥ Expensive, but it's a unique experience. Expect tatami mats, futons, and yukata. Onsen are also available.
Hostel ¥～¥¥ Usually cheap. You can book a bed in a dorm or a private room. Toilets and bathrooms are shared.
Don’t forget about other options such as camping(¥～¥¥ ), couch surfing(¥)Airbnb(¥～¥¥¥), tatami timeshare (JET program FREE) or simply just staying with your friends!
Getting around
Trains (Local, Rapid, Express, Limited Express, and Subway) A reliable way to travel. For routes and prices, use Google maps to help you! The earthquake has affected some services. The existing route from Kumamoto station to Oita is currently out of service. However, there is a JR Bus from Higo Ozu to Aso so you can continue your journey.
Shinkansen (Bullet Train) All Kyushu Shinkansen lines stop at Kumamoto Station, and some make other stops in Kumamoto. The shinkansen is fast, but expensive. Reserved seats are more expensive than non-reserved seats, but non-reserved seats are almost always open (except during peak travel times like Golden Week, New Year’s, and Obon). Connect to other shinkansen lines at Hakata station.
Bus You can usually get to most destinations by a bus if there is no other method of transportation.Find bus routes using Google Maps, but for timetables you can either go to the bus operator’s website or check the information posted at the bus stop. Look for the時刻表(jikokuhyou) and平日(heijitsu, weekday),祝日(shukujitsu, holidays), 土(do, Sat.) and 日(nich, Sun.).
Kumamoto AirportFlies to a variety of destinations in Japan. You can get there using a bus from Kumamoto City, or by catching the train to Higo Ozu and then taking the free shuttle bus.Use skyscanner.com to check out the cheapest flights.
Fukuoka Airport The international airport in Fukuoka Prefecture. It does take time to get there but it’s straightforward and connects you internationally (Korea is 2 hours away!). You take the local train to Omuta Station, then switch to the Nishitetsu Express. Tenjin or Hakata are the stations to get off at, and then take the subway that takes you directly to Fukuoka Airport.
Boat and Ferry
There are passenger ferries and car ferries. Passengers without cars can of course use car ferries, too, and bicycles are also accepted on board. If you drive, prices vary on the number of passengers you bring onboard. Some ferry routes in Kumamoto include:
Kumamoto Port (west of Kumamoto City) <--> Shimabara (Nagasaki)
Nagasu (Tamana) <--> Taira (Nagasaki)
Oniike (Amakusa) <--> Kuchinotsu (Nagasaki)
Tomioka (Amakusa) <--> Mogi (Nagasaki)
Ushibuka (Amakusa) <--> Nagashima (Kagoshima)
Shinwa (Amakusa) <--> Nagashima (Kagoshima)
Internet Resources
welcomekyushu.com Good for interesting places all over Kyushu. Also have up-to-date information on festivals.
Kumanago.jp/enGreat website with information on many attractions in Kumamoto. The Japanese language site is more detailed.
japan-guide.com A lot of information on hundreds of destinations in Japan. Each attraction has its own page with loads of details
kumamotojet.com/documents/InKumamotofinal.pdf A guide to attractions in Kumamoto Prefecture. Written by a former JET.
hyperdia.com Train routes, times, and ticket prices. Really thorough and really helpful.
booking.com Many types of lodging available here. Book directly from the site without a credit card (usually). My top choice!
kayak.com Flight, accommodation, and car rental information. Lists the lowest lodging prices.
hostelworld.com If you are interested in staying at a hostel or guesthouse, this is the place to look. Book it here.
couchsurfing.org Connect with a host and stay with them (usually for free).